Improvement in car-coupling tighteners



W. B. DUNNING.

CAR-COUPLING TIGHTENERS' 310.177.99 2. Patented. May 30,1876

L N. PETERS. FHOTO-LITRQGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, DO,

WILLIAM B. DUNNING, OF GENEVA, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLING TIGHTENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. hinfi fl, dated May 30, 1876; application filed May 8, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which Figure l is an inverted sectional View of my invention, showing two couplings united. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one couplin g. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modification of the take-up or tightener as adapted to the ordinary link-coupling.

It is considered important to have as little slack as possible between the cars of passenger-trains. This is partially accomplished on some roads by inserting wooden T-shaped keys through the links between the buHer-heads.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient means of taking up the slack after the cars' are coupled with either the link or with self-couplings. It consists in the employment of an eccentric or cam takeup or tightener in connection with the ordinary link, or with the arrow-headed link of self-couplings.

In order to adapt my invention to a self-V means of an eccentric or cam, 61, as shown more clearly in the right-hand coupling in Fig. 1, one plate of the draw-bar being broken away to expose it. The cam cl is pivoted or journaled in the upper and lower straps of the draw-bar by the journal wand the round portion of the crank-stem f. The graduated segment g is bolted to the under plate of the draw-bar B, and the crank G is provided with a pin, 0, Figs. 1 and 3, which catches in notches or perforations in the segment 9, and thereby secures the desired set of the tightener. The spring S is bolted to the draw-head B, and is shaped as shown in Fig. 1, so as to bear against the back side of the hook h, for the purpose of causing two opposite hooks to couple, and to retain them in contact when united. The hook may be prevented from swinging too far by making a slot through the outer or loose end of the spring, through which a suitable clamping-bolt, that is screwed into the back of the hook, is permitted to slide, the head m resting against the outer side of the spring. This slot permits the hook to be thrown out or retracted by turning the cam d, and the spring to perform its double function in either. case.

When two cars are to be coupled the hooks are thrown out, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2,

and after they are backed together the hooks are retracted, so as to bring the cross-beam of the platform of the two cars together. This is done by turning the crank or lever G from the position indicated bythe dotted line D to that indicated at D. This causes the drawbar B to approach the opposite one, as indicated by the dotted lines B.

nous platforms are drawn snugly together,

where they are secured by the pins 6 and segments 9. v

The chain and lever ordinarily employed for disconnecting this class of couplings maybe which throws the hooks h forward, and wholly releases them from any longitudinal strain.

It is sometimes found almost impossible to detach the hooks of this class of self-couplers as ordinarily made. i r

The end of the hooks may be provided with a link-receptacle, n, Fig. 2, and a pin-hole, c,

to permit the hooks to be connected with the ordinarylink-coupling.

The draw-bars B may be provided with an elongated opening, 0, through the upper and lower plates, to receive'a pin for a like purpose, and also with the ordinary cushion at the inner end, if desired.

This system or method of taking up the slack may be applied to the ordinary linkcouplings by introducing the eccentric d, Fig. 3, and between the upper and lower plates of the draw-bar B the coupler-jaw b. The latter is bifurcated in front to receive the couplingli'nk Z, and it is kept in line by a suitablelug, projecting into a groove or slot in either the upper or the lower plate of the draw-bar.

The slack between theends of the draw- Both hooks are. retracted in this manner until the two contig- 2 p tweed,

bars is taken up by turning the crank or lever 1. The eccentric or cam tightener d, in com- 0 to the position indicated by the dotted lines bination with the link or hook of car-couplings, O, which retracts the jaws b, the pin a movsubstantially in the manner shown, and for ing back in a slot in the upper and lower the purposes set forth.

plates, corresponding to the slot 0, Fig. 1. 2. In combination with the eccentric or cam Instead of the lever 0 being placed upon tightener d, the adjusting-lever G and ratchet the under side, a detachable crank or key or locking-segment g, substantially as and for might be substituted, and applied through a the purposes set forth.

trap-opening through the platform, which 7 WM. B. DUNNI'NG. might be preferable, as being more conven- Witnesses: iently adjusted and more accessible. WM. S. LOUGHBOROUGH,

What I claim as my invention'is B. G. WILLIAMS. 

